World Migratory Bird Day celebrations in Vancouver

from the Park Board:

 

Vancouver—with some of Canada’s most important bird habitat—is the perfect place to lead the country in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day.

 

To recognize the importance of birds to a healthy ecosystem, a series of events will be held across the city on May 12.

 

9:30 am Proclamation
Vancouver Park Board Chair Constance Barnes will make a proclamation of World Migratory Bird Day in Vancouver, and will be joined by Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and ornithologist and author Dr. Rob Butler, who will talk about the significance of birds in our city, at the heron colony in Stanley Park, 2099 Beach Avenue

 

10 am    Bird Walks Around Town
Bird experts will lead bird walks in five different Vancouver parks

• Stanley Park (leave Heron colony at 10 am; three walks, one in Punjabi)
• Everett Crowley Park (meet in Kerr Street parking lot at 9:45 am)
• The Sanctuary at Hastings Park (meet on the N.E. corner of Hastings and Renfrew streets at 9:45 am)
• Jericho Park (meet in east side parking lot at 9:45 am)
• Queen Elizabeth Park (meet in front of Bloedel Conservatory at 9:45 am; two walks, one in Mandarin)

 

1 – 4 pm         Open Bird House

Exhibits and activities for all ages in the Alice MacKay Room of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street

 

2 pm             Feature Presentation

Bird biologist Russell Cannings in the Alice MacKay Room of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street

 

There is also a birding display at Tourism Vancouver’s downtown Visitor Centre, 200 Burrard Street through to May 31 (daily 8:30 am – 6 pm).

English Bay and Burrard Inlet are designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada. The IBA program is coordinated by BirdLife International and aims to identify conserve and monitor essential bird habitats around the world. Numerous waterbirds use the protected waters of Burrard Inlet for feeding. Waterfowl numbers peak in midwinter here, while species diversity of waterbirds peaks in October.

 

World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and bird watching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day.

 

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Media enquiries: Daria Wojnarski, Communications Coordinator, at (t) 604-257-8440 or (c) 604-561-6925